Heart Valve Repair and Replacement

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for performing a procedure on a heart valve in which a loop of material (160) is configured to contact at least a portion of the annulus or the leaflets of a valve. A plurality of anchors (16) are distributed about the loop and configured for implantation into the annulus or the leaflets in a forward direction. The anchors are configured to resist extraction in a backwards direction. A plurality of linking members (150) are affixed to the loop of material and at least a portion of each linking member passes through a slot (17) in a respective anchor so that the linking members can slide with respect to the slots. The anchors are then implanted into the annulus or the leaflets. The loop can then be used to retain a replacement valve or to cinch the annulus. A number of particularly advantageous anchor configurations are also disclosed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 831,632, filed Jun. 6, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]The mitral valve is positioned in the heart left side, between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The most typical disease of the mitral valve is insufficiency or regurgitation which occurs when the valve leaflets do not coapt properly. Mitral valve repair by suturing a ring to reduce the annulus diameter is the procedure of choice to correct mitral regurgitation. With the use of current surgical techniques, most regurgitant mitral valves can be repaired or replaced with artificial valve prosthesis.[0003]In the past, mitral valve repair required an extremely invasive surgical approach that includes a sternotomy, cardio-pulmonary bypass, cardiac arrest, and an incision in the heart itself to expose the mitral valve. Such procedure is associated with high morbidity and mortality. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for repairing or replacing biological valves, particularly cardiac valves such as the mitral and tricuspid valves. The invention provides an apparatus for delivering a loop of material to the annulus or leaflets of a heart valve, with a plurality of anchors and linking members. The anchors have a pointy front end and a back end, and a slot that runs in a front-to-back direction. The anchors are designed to resist extraction from the annulus or leaflets in a backwards direction. The linking members are affixed to the loop of material and can slide with respect to the anchors in the front-to-back direction. The invention also includes a tissue engaging member that has a loop of material that contacts the annulus or leaflets of the heart valve when deployed. The apparatus and method of the invention can help repair or replace damaged heart valves with a loop of material that is implanted into the annulus or leaflets.

Problems solved by technology

Such procedure is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Leaflet function can be impaired as the result of prolapse of a leaflet due to ruptured chordae.

Due to the invasive nature of the mitral valve surgery, and the high risks involved in the procedure, many heart failure patients are poor surgical candidates.

Following the success of percutaneous replacement of the aortic valve, many attempts have been made to develop similar devices intended for percutaneous treatment of the mitral valve but due to the fact that this valve annulus is much bigger and amorphously shaped, and there are no lumen walls or calcific leaflets that may function as retaining surfaces like in the aortic valve, make it very difficult to prevent dislodgment of a valve expanded into place in the mitral position.

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